Family Issues

January 13, 2014

There are plenty of us who can point out problems in our communities and complain and then there are the select few who see a problem and then do something about it.
Chris Brantley from Clay County is one of those select few.
Brantley recognized a need for father figures to be involved in his local school, Piggott Elementary.
He started Watch D.O.G.S. This stands for Dads of Great students.
In Clay County, more than 15 percent of homes are single female headed households.
Brantley and his team of watch dogs spend time in the schools providing role models.
They also help with security.
And you don't even have to be a dad of a student. They have grandfathers, uncles and stepdads who are part of the 35 member team.
Hats off to Chris Brantley and all the members of the Watch DOGS.
You are making this A Better Region 8.

December 20, 2013

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit a special place in Region 8.
It's called the Children's Shelter and it's nestled safely in the heart of Walnut Ridge.
You may not have heard of the Children's Shelter, but the work that is done at this facility is remarkable.
The shelter is an emergency facility for children who have come from some horrific situations.
Some are abused, some are neglected and just need a place to stay until they are either placed in foster care, adopted or it has been determined they can safely return to their families.
I can't talk a lot about what I experienced while I was there due to confidentially, but I can tell you it's a place that overflows with love for these children.
The children who call the shelter their home come from all over Region 8 and they could use your help.
If you friend, the Children's Shelter in Walnut Ridge on Facebook -- they post every time they have a need even if it's just a bottle of laundry detergent or a roll of paper towels.
You can also just call them to make a donation at 870-886-5191.
The people who work at the Children's Shelter are making this a better and safer Region 8 for these children.

There are many things I absolutely love about Region 8 and one of those is the giving spirit that seems to be everywhere you turn.
Just this past week, two people who have made a huge impact on Region 8, opened their hearts to give even more.
Wallace and Jama Fowler gave the largest gift in the history of NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, creating an endowment to assist cancer patients.
NEA Baptist is renaming the Cancer Center after the Fowler Family.
It will now be called the Fowler Family for Cancer Care.
When I talked with Jama Fowler after the announcement, she said we just want to help people.
And that is such a simple, yet profound statement.
I think this is a great example for all of us.
Maybe we can't give much, but we can give a little to help those who are hurting in our community.
Thank you Wallace and Jama Fowler for all you have done to make this A Better Region 8.

December 16, 2013

$676,000 is a lot of money, no matter how you look at it. But let's think about what $676,000 can do here in Region 8.
This list shows some of the programs United Way of Northeast Arkansas is funding for the years 2014/2015. We have not met our campaign goal for several years and this year is proving to be even more challenging.
Did you know United Way began in Jonesboro in 1955 and has grown over the years to become United Way of Northeast Arkansas? We have served several local communities through projects like landscaping at county courthouses, handicapped facilities at Randolph County Fairgrounds and providing additional support during local historic floods and tornado damage through the American Red Cross.
Did you know that several entities and non-profits were helped in getting their start financially by your United Way? Think how differently your community would look today without the Church Health Center, City Youth or Big Brothers Big Sisters. How sad it will be if United Way can't help any new programs, much less the ones we have committed to serve.
Residents of Northeast Arkansas have given so unselfishly to others when there were unmet needs in the past. In this holiday season when so many of us are so blessed, will you help make someone's future brighter? Please give to United Way and help make this A Better Region 8.

November 18, 2013

At Region 8 News, our journalists report on stories that you need to know and stories you want to know.
At times, the stories you need to know aren't necessarily ones you want to hear.
Such was the case with Amanda Hanson's Special Report called Face of Suicide.
Amanda shared the story of Mary Robertson who has lost 3 family members to suicide.
I want to thank Mary Robertson for her courage and for sharing her story with Region 8.
If Amanda's story reached one person and made them stop and seek help or if the story offered solace to one person who has lost a loved one to suicide, then this story was one that needed to be told.
Again, I echo the words of Amanda and Mary, if you know someone in trouble or you yourself are having thoughts of suicide, get help.
Call the Arkansas Crisis Hotline at 888-274-7472.
Bringing attention to the growing problem of suicide makes this A Better Region 8.

November 11, 2013

I will work for food.
This week, the Region 8 News Team will be working for your food and donations.
We need your help to Fill the Foodbank this Wednesday, November 13th from 6 in the morning until 630 at night.
Just swing by Kroger on Caraway and drop off your food or monetary donations to help the Northeast Arkansas Food Bank Fill the Food Bank.
It's going to be freezing outside, but we aren't going to let that stop us from collecting donations for our neighbors who need a helping hand to put food on the table.
You won't even have to get out of your car. Stay warm, drop by and we will come right to you to collect your donation.
We all need to do our part to Fill the Foodbank.
Your donations will Make This A Better Region 8.

Growing up I lived next to a family who had a daughter with Down Syndrome.
I worried about her like I would have my own sister.
But I never realized if you have down syndrome you may be prone to wander and that can be a life threatening situation.
From time to time, you will hear on Region 8 News that a person with a disorder like Alzheimer's disease, Autism or Down Syndrome has wandered off and can't be located.
One Region 8 group is doing something about that.
The Elks Lodge 498 was recently awarded a 2014 Impact Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
The lodge will receive 9 thousand dollars for its Project Lifesaver.
The Elks partner with police in an electronic wristband program for those who may wander and be unable to find their way home.
The elks visit with program participants each month to replace wristbands, answer questions and provide support to the participants and their families.
Thank you to the members of Elks Lodge 498 -- the work you are doing is making this a better and safer Region 8.

October 21, 2013

Something very special happened in Region 8 this past weekend.
It's called Overflow Jonesboro. This is an outreach project conducted by members of Southwest Church of Christ.
While this project has been going on for years, this year they were able to add something new.
The members still helped people with home repairs, yard work and prayer, but this year they were able to add some medical and dental services.
Both NEA Baptist and St. Bernards offered their services to the community for free.
People were able to get lab work done, check their height, weight, blood pressure and stroke screenings, dental services for all ages and free breast exams.
Church members raised 2 thousand dollars to help with Overflow Jonesboro and donations from JT White Lumber Company provided the materials and tools for the home repairs.
What an incredible example for all of us. Whether you're volunteering in a group like Overflow Jonesboro or just paying a kind gesture forward - it certainly makes this A Better Region 8.

September 23, 2013

Have you ever thought about having another job just for one day? For 20 years United Way of Northeast Arkansas has given that opportunity to as many as 500 volunteers every year. That day is the Day of Caring. Ordinary people just like you and me trade jobs for just one day to help local nonprofits who give back to Region 8 365 days a year! Day of Caring projects include: building a wheel chair ramp to help children mount a horse at Home for Life, painting a mural at the Foundation of Arts, putting finishing touches on a Habitat House or filing for CRDC. It is amazing how one project can touch so many lives. For example, thirty volunteers will paint the gym at City Youth but hundreds of students will play basketball and dodge ball in that gym, one simple act that will benefit so many children. Governor Mike Beebe has declared September "Arkansas Volunteer Month" to honor volunteers who give of their time and talents to make Arkansas great. This year's theme is "Volunteers: Hands that serve, hearts that care." According to the Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support of Arkansas, volunteer time equates to $27.45 per hour. The impact of 300-500 volunteers giving one day of their time equals $51,345 to $96,075 in value to the dozens of non-profits organizations served at Day of Caring. Multiply that by 20 years and Day of Caring has made a major impact. The mission of United Way is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of people in the 8-county community they serve. That is Day of Caring and that is what makes this a Better Region 8.

September 18, 2013

There is no question the fight against drug and alcohol abuse is a daily struggle. Sadly, we watch our young people slide into the grips of these temptations and many times we sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to do something about the problem. But one man in our community said enough and decided it was no longer ok to just sit on the sidelines. Skip Mooney Junior is the driving force behind an organization called Out of the Dark. I know many of you are familiar with Mooney and Out of the Dark, but if you are not, this is a grassroots organization committed to addressing the horrible impact chemical addiction has on our community. So you may say, that's wonderful, how does this impact me? The bottom line is drug abuse impacts all of us. And there is a simple thing you can do to join the fight. Attend the Out of the Dark concert this Saturday night, September 14th. The concert starts at 6pm at Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church in downtown Jonesboro. Admission is free and several local and nationally recognized performers will be taking the stage. Do your part to fight the war on drugs and make this A Better Region 8.